[Boston—Sunday, 9 December 1866]

Sunday. Mrs Hawthorne left yesterday afternoon. She is full of anxieties for her children. Rose is at Lexington with Dr Lewis whose school progresses famously. He has 125 scholars.

Mrs Putnam called and brought me flowers.

Mrs Whitney and her daughter came from Milton. Saw them all and was filled with gratitude for such friends. Jamie had a most fatiguing day, numberless persons with books which must be refused, among others Dr Hedge who is full of grief at the loss of his married daughter so it was harder to say “no” to him especially as his book is a good one and his publishers have failed but T. & F. have too many books already to make it best to take anything new.

Jamie was refreshed at night by a good laugh over a dream of Dr Bellows in red and black wig with patch over one eye officiating in Dr Bartol’s church with poor deaf Mr Callender holding up the train of his robe and putting a new white handkerchief round his neck at every verse of the scripture. He had been reading an article on church ritual in the Fortnightly.

I must get a new cook and the thought plagues me or would if I would let it—this one groans and talks of hard work!! Family 3—3 servants—wages $5 per week! But she is nearly 60 years old and I ought not to have taken her yet she appears so well. I am sorry to say she takes it out in appearing chiefly.

I hope G.W. Greene has written out his pleasant reminiscences of his early and late friendship with Longfellow. He relates interestingly the story of his going out by invitation to stay with Marquis La Fayette who for his grandfather’s sake would do everything for young Greene. He must have been a very beautiful boy and he speedily became accomplished also in languages & history. After completing his visit at La Grange he thought he would go to Italy and had reached Marseilles en route when one night Longfellow then 19 years of age, having been sent abroad to acquire languages with the promise of the Bowdoin professorship if he did so, called upon him seeing his name on the hotel book. From that evening their friendship is dated—they proceeded at once to Italy together and laid a foundation for a knowledge of Italian which has ripened into the present translation of the Divina Commedia in which Prof. Greene’s criticisms have been of eminent service to Mr Longfellow.

Mr Greene tells the tale in an unassuming manner which is most lovely, also he knew Mary Potter, L.’s first wife and went to him at her death in Belgium.


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